McGinley named captain of 2014 European Ryder Cup team - RyderCup.com Paul McGinley holed the 10-foot winning putt in his Ryder Cup debut at The Belfry in 2002 and was also part of the victorious sides in 2004 and 2006. McGinley named captain of 2014 European Ryder Cup team Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 | 1:03 p.m. By MICHAEL CASEY, AP Sports Writer ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Paul McGinley was chosen as Europe's Ryder Cup captain for 2014 on Tuesday, ending a messy campaign that included a late challenge from former captain Colin Montgomerie. RELATED Northern Irelan'd Paul McGinley picked to captain Team Europe The European Tour's tournament committee in Abu Dhabi made the unanimous decision in favor of McGinley after a nearly three-hour meeting. The smiling 46-year-old Irishman was then presented at a news conference as the successor to Jose Maria Olazabal, who led Europe to a stunning comeback victory in October.

"To lead the cream of the crop in the Ryder Cup is going to be a huge honor," McGinley said. "To be quite honest it is a very humbling experience to be sitting in this seat. It is a week I'm looking forward to. It's a whole new experience for me, the chance to be a captain." The decision ended a hectic few days in which Darren Clarke pulled out of the running for the position, preferring to concentrate on his own game. His decision prompted Montgomerie to launch his late campaign for the job which, in turn, sparked a show of support for McGinley on Monday from some of Europe's leading players. The loudest of that support came from top-ranked Rory McIlroy, who spoke forcefully on Monday and Tuesday. He also came out against Montgomerie, arguing he would be less motivated since he had captained the winning 2010 Ryder Cup team. "Common sense prevailed in the end. ... Paul McGinley 2014 European Ryder Cup captain!!! Couldn't be happier for him. ... Roll on Gleneagles," McIlroy tweeted.

McIlroy later turned up at the news conference to welcome the new captain -- whom he played under in the Seve Trophy in 2009 -- declaring him to be "probably the best captain I've ever played under." "He makes you feel so good about yourself," McIlroy said. "He put me at No. 1. He's like `I want you lead out the team'. He builds you up and makes you feel confident. He is very good at that." McGinley acknowledged he doesn't have the playing record of some previous captains, but he does bring an uncanny ability to win as part of a team. He has played in three victorious Ryder Cup-winning teams -- in 2002, 2004 and 2006 -- and was vice captain for the victories in 2010 and last year at Medinah. Europe will defend the trophy at Gleneagles, Scotland. The Americans picked Tom Watson last month to captain the U.S. team at Gleneagles. Watson will be 65 when the event starts, making him by far the oldest man to fill the role and the first repeat captain for the United States since 1987.

But he's also the last American to lead the team to victory on the road in 1993, and he knows how to win in the blustery Scottish weather. Watson congratulated McGinley on his appointment. "(I) anticipate that his passion and love of the event will transfer to being an outstanding leader of his team in 2014 at Gleneagles," Watson said. "Paul ... is an outstanding representative of European golf. I look forward to sharing the stage with him as we make our journey to Scotland." ©2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. 2014 European Ryder Cup roster -- golf 2014 European Ryder Cup roster Below are the nine automatic qualifiers for the European Ryder Cup team. A * denotes a captain's pick by Paul McGinley. 2014 European Ryder Cup Team Player 2014 Ryder Cup rosters: The best team USA and Europe captain's pick options - SBNation.com 2018 Ryder Cup 2014 Ryder Cup rosters: The best team USA and Europe captain's pick options The Ryder Cup quickly approaches and each captain will finalize his team on Tuesday.

The European side has an embarrassment of options, while Tom Watson's choices are much less appealing. Rec Andrew Redington The calendar has flipped to September, which means it's Ryder Cup month. The European team settled its first nine players on Sunday, and now the two captains will announce their three captain's picks on Tuesday. It's one of the most intriguing days in golf off the course, and a couple spots on each side are up for debate at the last minute. Here's our effort to breakdown the current rosters, and then all the best options for each captain ahead of tomorrow's announcements. Who's in already? While the points race for the USA roster closed at the end of the PGA Championship, the European side did not determine their nine automatic qualifiers until the last day of the month on Sunday ( Here's a refresher for how each side calculates points for these qualifying spots ). And the race for the final spot for Paul McGinley's European side came down to a shot. While Graeme McDowell sat at home enjoying his new baby daughter just born on Monday, Stephen Gallacher was making a desperate push to bump the Ulsterman out of the ninth automatic spot.

Gallacher needed to finish in the top two at the Italian Open, but came up a shot short of David Howell and settled for third. Watched the last few holes of the coverage. If Stevie G had passed me, I was keeping it all in perspective!! #blessed — Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) August 31, 2014 Gallacher posted a T7 and 3rd in his last two weeks and has a very compelling argument to be a captain's pick, but the auto spot still goes to the veteran McDowell. The European Tour creates two separate points rankings because so many European players don't play full-time on their tour. So in addition to a basic European Points List, there's also a World Points List to reward all those worldwide wins and PGA Tour wins that European-born players lock up each year. Thanks in part to his BMW PGA Championship in England, the Euro Tour's premier event, Rory McIlroy finished in first in both the European Points list and the World Points List, which he also dominated thanks to those two majors and WGC title.

Here are the final standings for the two separate points races for Team Europe: EUROPEAN POINTS LIST When are the captain's picks made? Tuesday! Photo via Andrew Redington Paul McGinley will announce his three captain's picks on what will be Tuesday morning for the American TV audience. The announcement is set to take place around 7 a.m. on Golf Channel's "Morning Drive" program. Tom Watson will fill out his roster later, making his announcement Tuesday evening in a made-for-TV show originating from the "Saturday Night Live" Studio 8H in New York. The show is supposed to start at 7 p.m. ET and Golf Channel will also carry it live. Who's in the running for a captain's pick? Europe McGinley definitely has the tougher task. The European pool is so deep that they could put together two very competitive teams with 24 guys. There are some new names, and one old name in Thomas Bjorn, that probably weren't expected to be on the roster at the start of the year. Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, and Bjorn locking up three spots leaves several Ryder Cup superstars and veterans battling for three spots.

Here are the candidates: Ian Poulter -- Unless he's injured or completely lost his game, Poulter should always be on the team. He's probably the best player in the world in the match play format, a reputation built by crushing American dreams several times over in past Ryder Cups and repeated deep advances in the bracket at the WGC Match Play event. As a captain's pick in 2012, he went 4-0, whipping the USA in every format and with several different partners in the two-man games. His overall Ryder Cup record is 12-3. It's not been a strong season for Poulter on the PGA Tour, but this is his event and he's going to make the team. Ryder Cup The European final roster Tom Watson finalizes American Ryder Cup roster Stephen Gallacher -- Like Donaldson and Dubuisson, he's another new face that's probably going to bump out one of those stars we're so used to seeing on the European team. A native of Scotland, he'd obviously be one of the fan-favorites at Glenagles if selected.

He started the season targeting a Ryder Cup spot, and made a big early move when he won the Dubai Desert Classic, beating out Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy after playing as the third wheel in their group for the first two rounds. His strong finish to the season, missing out on that auto-spot by a shot, also likely puts his name on the roster. His position is probably not as strong as Poulter's but they seem to be the first two choices. Luke Donald -- The former No. 1 player in the world is still inside the top 30 in the rankings, but he's been mediocre-to-poor all season. Donald has made a ton of money on both the PGA and Euro Tours, and he's a four-time Ryder Cupper that's had a run of success partnering with Sergio Garcia. He's also a natural partner for all the other English vets. But he's going to end the season with a missed cut at The Barclays and a finish near the bottom of the leaderboard at the Deutsche Bank Championship. There was a time you could always count on Donald to make it all the way through the FedEx Cup and be there in Atlanta for the finale, but he's going home this year after just two events.

That middling finish, and four ugly showings at the majors, may leave leave him on the outside of an event where he's become a fixture and leader for Europe. It will probably be a toss-up for that final spot between Donald and ... Lee Westwood -- Another Englishman who has been a leader on so many successful European teams but who's also had an underwhelming season with inconsistent form. He's the most experienced player on the European side by a wide margin, playing in every Ryder Cup since 1997 and posting an 18-13-6 record. It's hard to imagine a European team without Westwood, but he's not in his best shape and this is as deep a pool as he's ever had to beat out for a spot. Westwood's season ended last week at the Barclays, a T57 result putting him outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings. His brief run at the Masters, where he always seems to be a factor, was the only real notable moment this year for the former No. 1 player in the world.

It will be difficult for McGinley to call Donald or Westwood and tell them they're not on the team, but that's probably how this is going to go over the next day. Miguel Angel Jimenez -- In any other year where Euros weren't winning all the time on all the tours across the world, Jimenez would be an easy choice. He won the Spanish Open, his debut event on the Champions Tour, and made the Masters so much more enjoyable with that weekend charge and 4th place finish. But the 50-year-old doesn't have enough to warrant a selection at this point, much to the disappointment of writers and bloggers everywhere. Here's hoping the most entertaining and interesting man in golf somehow becomes a part of the week at Gleneagles, whether it's as a Euro advisor or assistant or some last second made-up position. UPDATE: McGInley made his picks , and went with Poulter, Gallacher, and opted for Westwood over Donald in the final spot. USA Like McGinley, Tom Watson may have a tough job filling out his roster but it's for a much different reason.

McGinley has five or six candidates who would be deserving in most years, while Watson doesn't have many good options to complete his 12-man team. Tiger is injured. Jason Dufner is injured. Dustin Johnson is indisposed. It's a thinner group, to be sure. Here's a look at who's in the running for the US picks on Tuesday night. Keegan Bradley -- He's been pegged for one of these captain's picks for over a month now. Bradley is a natural partner for Phil Mickelson, and he fell just outside the top 9 in the points race. The anchored putter teamed with Mickelson and rolled through the Euros early in Chicago. They also played pretty well as a pair at the Presidents Cup last October. Bradley has not won on the PGA Tour in more than two years, but he's come close several times and remains one of the USA's better young players. He'll get a spot. (via @bubbaprog ) Hunter Mahan -- Mahan spent most of the season way down the Ryder Cup standings at 25th or worse.

But now he's shot into the middle of the captain's pick conversation, and probably played his way onto the team with his win at The Barclays last week. Watson cited Mahan specifically during his opening press conference when he was named captain last year. The captain questioned a team selection process that left Mahan off the roster, so there's a little background there with Watson being a fan of Mahan's consistent work over the past decade. He was left off the 2012 team because his game flamed out over the second half of that season. He's finishing this year with a T15 at a WGC event, a T10 at the season's final major, and a victory at the first FedEx Cup event. Given the limited options, it would be surprising to see Mahan passed over again, which is a stunning change from his status as a longshot a month ago. Webb Simpson -- The 2012 U.S. Open winner may emerge late as the best of a lot of not great options. Simpson would pair well again with Bubba Watson, who could be the most fragile member of the team trying to navigate the hostile Euro crowds.

Simpson has eight top 10s in 22 events this season, and is in contention this week in Boston after missing the cut at The Barclays. He was 2-2 in his Ryder Cup debut at Medinah. A spotty season might be enough for the final spot. Brandt Snedeker -- After the PGA Championship, he was probably one the favorites, along with Bradley, to claim a captain's pick. But he's missed the cut in the first two postseason events to promptly end his FedEx Cup. Snedeker was shaky at times in his 2012 Ryder Cup debut just after winning the $10 million FedEx Cup a few weeks prior. Once one of the best putters in the world, Snedeker has struggled with the flatstick all year. These last two weeks may have completely knocked him out of consideration for that final spot. Brendon Todd -- He's an unknown, but Watson would make a clear break with the past if he went with Todd. The Georgia product had never even played in a major championship until June's U.S. Open, but that came during a stretch where he was one of the most consistent American golfers on the PGA Tour.

He got his first career win at the Byron Nelson, and then went T5, T8, T5, T4 in four of his next five events. That run at least gave Todd a chance to go out and grab a spot from nowhere over the past month, but he's not played well since the start of August. A rough PGA Championship and two uninspiring FedEx Cup starts likely takes him out of the running as a darkhorse pick. Anybody... anybody? While those were the five main US contenders for those three spots, the candidates are so weak that a good result on Monday at the Deutsche Bank could change things. Chris Kirk is another Georgia alum who has had a consistent season, beginning with his win last fall at the start of the wraparound schedule. He's in contention at TPC Boston and could be a late addition. The same goes for Russell Henley, another Georgia boy who has one of the better putters on the Tour. He holds the final round lead at the DBC and is going for his third Tour win at just 25-years old.

Ryan Moore finished in 10th place in the final Ryder Cup standings, but he needed to make a big move in the FedEx Cup to close in on a captain's spot. He's in last place at the moment, and it's unlikely this former amateur star gets his first ever Ryder Cup chance this year. Bill Haas is another American with team experience, playing in the last two Presidents Cups. He's had subpar season for his standards but is making a bit of a push with a T15 at the PGA, a T2 in Greensboro, and is now going low in the final round at TPC Boston to make a charge up the leaderboard. It's probably too little and too late, but that final spot is so open that Haas could be under last second consideration. Predictions Tiger Woods won't be a Tom Watson pick on Tuesday night, and neither will assistant captain Steve Stricker. I think Watson will go with Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan, and Webb Simpson, while McGinley's choices in the morning will be Ian Poulter, Stephen Gallacher, and Luke Donald (and I was wrong, McGinley opted for Westwood over Donald).

Ryder Cup 2014: A tale of two captains - CNN.com Ryder Cup 2014: A tale of two captains By Paul Gittings, CNN updated 8:04 AM EDT, Thu September 12, 2013 Just how important are captains in the Ryder Cup? Paul McGinley is still competing on the European Tour, producing a strong performance in the first qualifying event for the 2014 Ryder Cup, the Wales Open, where he tied for eighth place this month. Tom Watson was officially unveiled as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for 2014 at a ceremony in New York. It will be his second spell in charge, having led the successful 1993 U.S. team. McGinley, the European captain for 2014, is all smiles as he parades the Ryder Cup ahead of next year's title defense in Scotland. Legends paired: Watson and Jack Nicklaus share some time at the 1981 Ryder Cup at Walton Heath, which saw a crushing victory for a powerful United States team.

1993 Ryder Cup captains Bernard Gallacher, left, and Watson parade the trophy before the match at The Belfry, which was won by the U.S. team. Watson with Paul Azinger, whose half with Nick Faldo helped the U.S to come from behind on the final day in 1993. Watson's finest moment as a player is regarded as his victory in the "Duel in the Sun" when he held off Jack Nicklaus at the 1977 British Open at Turnberry. Watson's putt on the 18th green of the final round to win the 2009 British Open narrowly misses. Then 59, he eventually lost a playoff to Stewart Cink. 2012 European captain Jose Maria Olazabal, left, discusses tactics with his assistant McGinley during the match at Medinah, where the U.S. collapsed to lose on the final day. McGinley plays a shot to the third green at Gleneagles in last month's Johnnie Walker Championship, the last major tournament to be staged at the Scottish course until the 2014 Ryder Cup.

HIDE CAPTION (CNN) -- If it were a heavyweight boxing contest it would probably be ruled a mismatch. Paul McGinley versus Tom Watson. A cut-above European Tour player against a PGA Tour -- and just about everywhere else -- golfing legend. In the blue corner, a man with precisely zero major titles -- tied sixth his best finish. In the red, an eight-time major champion -- and so nearly nine, improbably aged almost 60, at the 2009 British Open. Ryder Cup captaincy experience? Next year is McGinley's first match in charge, although he was twice on winning sides as a vice-captain. Watson led the 1993 United States team which shocked Europe at its beloved Belfry to wrest back the famous trophy. Playing record in the biennial sporting showdown? McGinley two wins and two halves from nine matches. Watson, 10 wins and a half from 15 matches. But if the prospect of going head to head against a sporting icon in the ultimate in team sports competition has left him fazed, McGinley is showing little sign of it.

Read: How player power decided the Europe captaincy As the European captain, the genial 46-year-old Irishman will pit his wits against Watson, who not only has won five British Open titles, but is revered in Scotland where the 2014 match will take place at the famous Gleneagles course. With a year to go until the first shots are struck in anger in Perthshire, McGinley is well aware that the David vs. Goliath nature of the contest, at least as far as the team captains are concerned, is a talking point. Tom Watson named Ryder Cup captain Torrance: My top tips for McGinley McGinley: Ryder Cup role is an honor "Four of Tom's Open championships came here in Scotland, he's got a real affinity with the people, so he's going to bring that very strong dynamic to his team," McGinley told CNN's Living Golf program. "He won in 1993, away from home as well, so I don't underestimate him, neither do the players. "He'll make some astute decisions, no doubt about that.

But ultimately it's not between myself and Tom Watson, it's about 12 players in each team and how well they play. "As much as the captains are important, it's really about the 24 players." Read: Watson relishes return to U.S. captaincy Leading golf journalist Bill Elliott, who has covered every Ryder Cup since 1977, said while the captain's role was clearly influential, it was sometimes overstated. "In many ways a captain can lose the Ryder Cup, but in the end it is very difficult for him to win it," said Elliott, who is the Editor at Large of Golf Monthly magazine. "McGinley is hugely respected and represents all those players who have made a very good living but are not superstars. "I think it's healthy that you can become a Ryder Cup captain without winning majors." Where McGinley may also have an advantage is that he remains a full-time member of the European Tour and gets to see his likely team and picks close up on the golf course.

Tom Watson is here to do business and he is taken this on again at his age for a reason: to win it Paul McGinley The 64-year-old Watson, by contrast, plays on the U.S. seniors' Champions Tour, occasional appearances in the majors excepted. Veteran campaigner "I think I'm the second oldest guy with a card on Tour, but I still enjoy playing," McGinley said. Read: Watson grabs ace at 2011 British Open "I played well last season with a couple of top-five finishes, so when I play well, I'm still able to compete." It has also enabled him to sample at first hand the layout at Gleneagles, where battle will be joined from September 26-28 next year. McGinley played all four rounds of the recent Johnnie Walker Championship, the last tournament to be played on the Perthshire course before the 40th Ryder Cup contest. "I'll be watching the positions in the fairway and wondering if there's anything I can change or if there's anything we need to change to maximize and give our team an advantage next year," he told CNN before the event.

"We've got the experience of playing 10 years around here, the Johnnie Walker Championship, a lot of us know the pin positions and how the course is normally set up, we can use that to our advantage." But like his predecessors as European captain before him, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, McGinley admits that his own playing performances have suffered. In many ways a captain can lose the Ryder Cup, but in the end it is very difficult for him to win it Bill Elliott Career sacrifice "It's tough. There's no doubt there's a lot of challenges, all the previous captains have taught me how difficult it is to focus on your own career," he said. McGinley's peak came between 2002 and 2006, when he played on three successive winning European teams. Although his overall personal record is mediocre, it was his 10-foot putt on the 18th to secure a half against Jim Furyk at The Belfry in 2002 which secured the cup for Europe. A respected elder statesman, he was a natural to assist both Montgomerie and Olazabal as a vice-captain in their victorious campaigns.

Read: Watson proves golf is a game for old men It also put him firmly in the frame to step up when the choices were being made for the 2014 match. With Montgomerie and former major winners such as Sandy Lyle and Darren Clarke also being touted for the prestigious job, McGinley's failure to reach the very top of the game as a player was thought to count against him. Ryder Cup standout Lee Westwood, although an admirer of McGinley, went public with his support for Clarke. "Paul has played three Ryder Cups, Darren has played five, won a major championship and a lot of other tournaments worldwide. You have to have criteria somewhere and he edges it for me," the Englishman was quoted as saying. Unanimous choice McGinley admits that by the time the process reached a conclusion with a vote of the Players' Committee in Abu Dhabi in January, he was resigned to his fate. "If the captaincy hadn't come my way it wouldn't be the end of the world for me, and to be honest in the last week or so before the vote I had been fatalistic about it," he revealed.

Ultimately it's not between myself and Tom Watson, it's about 12 players in each team and how well they play. Paul McGinley McGinley was eventually the unanimous choice of the committee and has set about forging his own imprint on the team; winning an extra captain's pick -- two became three -- was the first task accomplished. Read: McGinley named in trio of Ryder vice captains "It's going so fast. I can't believe it's been six months since I was appointed, but fortunately it's going very well so far," he said. The acid test will come in the autumn of next year when McGinley makes those crucial three picks then attempts to lead his team to their eighth win in the last 10 stagings. The last two matches at Celtic Manor and Medinah, where Europe recovered from a four-point overnight deficit to score a spectacular triumph, have been desperately tight and McGinley believes they act as motivation for the United States team. "They are obviously keen to sort this out. Tom Watson is here to do business and he is taken this on ... again ... at his age ...

for a reason: to win it." Elliott is already predicting another tense affair and believes it adds to the magic of the Ryder Cup. Close contest "It's better if there is only a half-point or point in it and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if America were to win it, to help retain the interest of their public in the event." He believes that the visitors could not have chosen a better captain than the legendary Watson. "He even has a legend's voice, with so much gravitas! "He will boost the American team and is particularly adored in Scotland, where he has had a love affair with the country after winning the British Open four times." Kaymer's magical Medinah putt Lee Westwood looks forward to Ryder Cup McGinley is also popular wherever he plays and takes great heart from the "incredible" performance of Europe's women in the Solheim Cup against the United States, beating the hosts by eight points in Colorado last month. Read: McGinley captains GB and Ireland to Seve Trophy win "I hope this will propel the Ladies European Tour to a brighter commercial future, like the Ryder Cup did for us," he said.

Certainly the exploits of the late Severiano Ballesteros helped to send golf into wider markets, with other major winners such as Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle and Olazabal giving the European team the basis for continued success. Gleneagles countdown But McGinley believes there is greater strength in depth now. "Back then we had six or seven really strong players, maybe four or five not so strong, and there would be a heavy dependence on the star men. "It's different now, illustrated last year (at Medinah) when Jose Maria played all 12 players on the first day." Whether McGinley employs the same inclusive approach at Gleneagles, only time will tell, but he gained the reputation of being an astute tactician when he led the Great Britain and Ireland team to wins over Continental Europe in the Seve Trophy in 2009 and 2011. "He's a detail man and that should make him a very good Ryder Cup captain," said Elliott. Watson will surely inspire the U.S. to great heights next year, so it remains to be seen if McGinley can match him in a fascinating subplot to the eventual outcome.

Part of complete coverage on Ryder Cup 2014: Europe's Ryder Cup team in profile - BBC Sport BBC Sport Ryder Cup 2014: Europe's Ryder Cup team in profile 2 Sep 2014 Media playback is not supported on this device Ryder Cup 2014: Meet the Europe Ryder Cup team Ryder Cup, Gleneagles Dates: 26-28 September Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, highlights on BBC Two and live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website each day via desktop, mobile, tablet and app. European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has finalised his team to face the United States at Gleneagles from 26 September. McGinley chose English duo Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, and Scot Stephen Gallacher as his wildcard selections to join the nine players who qualified automatically. In all, nine nationalities and three debutants are included in the team which will bid for Europe's third successive Ryder Cup victory. *All rankings and ages correct as of Tuesday, 2 September.

Automatic qualifiers (via European points list) Rory McIlroy World ranking: 1 Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P9 W4 L3 H2) The hottest player on the planet with three straight wins this summer including two majors in the form of the Open and US PGA, Northern Ireland's McIlroy is now a four-time major winner. Henrik Stenson World ranking: 3 Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P7 W2 L3 H2) The Swede missed out two years ago at Medinah but hit back to top the 2013 European rankings and US PGA Tour end of season play-offs. In 2014 he was placed fourth in the US Open and third in the US PGA Championship. Victor Dubuisson World ranking: 21 Ryder Cup caps: None The Frenchman won his maiden European Tour title in 2013 at the Turkish Open and has added two second places this year. Jamie Donaldson World ranking: 28 Ryder Cup caps: None Donaldson wins a first Ryder Cup cap for Wales since Phillip Price in 2002 at the Belfry. His win at the Czech Masters in August was his third European Tour win in as many years.

Qualified automatically via World points list Sergio Garcia World ranking: 4 Ryder Cup caps: 6 (P28 W16 L8 H4) Spain's Ryder Cup veteran and the team's vice-captain in 2010 has been one of the form players of 2014. He took victory at the Qatar Masters in January and tied for second at this year's Open Championship at Hoylake. Justin Rose World ranking: 5 Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P9 W6 L3 H0) England's 2013 US Open champion won twice in two weeks this year, on the PGA Tour's Quickens Loans National in June and on the European Tour's Scottish Open in July. He is a key European asset. Martin Kaymer World ranking: 12 Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P6 W3 L2 H1) The German sank the winning putt in 2012 and goes to Gleneagles as the Players Championship holder and US Open champion.

Thomas Bjorn World ranking:26 Ryder Cup caps:2 (P6 W3 L2 H1) The resurgent Dane returns to the European team for the first time since 2002 after vice-captain stints in 2010 and 2012. He is a 15-time winner on the European Tour. Graeme McDowell World ranking: 16 Ryder Cup caps: 3 (P12 W5 L5 H2) Northern Ireland's hero of the 2010 Ryder Cup won the French Open in July and hung on to the final automatic qualifying spot in the team. Wildcard picks World ranking: 36 Ryder Cup caps: 4 (P15 W12 L3 H0) England's hero of Medinah in 2012 needed a wildcard but hopes are high for similar inspiration in Scotland. He has won eight out of nine points for the team when selected as a wildcard.

Lee Westwood World ranking: 38 Ryder Cup caps: 8 (P37 W18 L13 H6) The Englishman needs four points to equal Sir Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup points record of 25, though Faldo played in 11 Ryder Cups - 46 matches in all. Westwood won at the Malaysian Open in April. Stephen Gallacher World ranking: 33 Ryder Cup caps: None The Scotsman retained the Dubai Desert Classic in 2014 and will have home support on his side, but has never finished in the top 10 of a major. Captain Age: 47 Ryder Cup caps: Three (P9 W2 L2 H5) McGinley made history by becoming the first Irishman to captain a Ryder Cup team. He made three consecutive, and victorious, Ryder Cup appearances in 2002, 2004 and 2006, holing a 10ft putt on the 18th in his match against Jim Furyk in 2002.

Paul McGinley is Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup captain MICHAEL CASEY Share View photos Paul McGinley of Ireland reaches for the trophy after being named as team Captain for the 2014 European Ryder Cup Team following a meeting of the Tournament Committee of the European Tour in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. (AP Photp/Manuel Salazar) More ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Paul McGinley was chosen as Europe's Ryder Cup captain for 2014, ending a chaotic campaign marked by a late challenge from former captain Colin Montgomerie. McGinley, a 46-year-old Irishman, replaces Jose Maria Olazabal, whose team rallied to victory over the United States in October at Medinah, outside Chicago. Europe will defend the trophy at Gleneagles, Scotland. "To lead the cream of the crop in the Ryder Cup is going to be a huge honor," McGinley said at a news conference Tuesday.

"To be quite honest, it is a very humbling experience to be sitting in this seat. It is a week I'm looking forward to. It's a whole new experience for me, the chanced to be a captain." Top-ranked Rory McIlroy spoke forcefully Monday and Tuesday in favor of the new captain. He said Montgomerie would be less motivated because he captained the winning 2010 Ryder Cup team. "Common sense prevailed in the end.... Paul McGinley 2014 European Ryder Cup captain!!! Couldn't be happier for him... Roll on Gleneagles," McIlroy tweeted. McIlroy later appeared at the news conference to welcome the new captain. "He makes you feel so good about yourself," McIlroy said. The European Tour's tournament committee in Abu Dhabi made the unanimous decision after a nearly three-hour meeting. It also considered Montgomerie, Sandy Lyle, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Paul Lawrie. Montgomerie had earlier said it would be a dream to captain the team in his home country of Scotland. He left without making a comment.

The decision ended a messy few days in which Darren Clarke pulled out of the consideration for the position, preferring to concentrate on his own game. His decision prompted Montgomerie to launch his late bid. That, in turn, brought a stream of support for McGinley on Monday. "I read and followed every word that went down the last few weeks, I have to say, and watched with interest. Like a yo-yo, my chances seemed to go up and down and up and down," McGinley said. "It's also a situation I'm relishing and I can't wait to get into the role of being the captain, working with the players, particularly the players that have shown such huge support for me obviously in the last few weeks." Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the players' committee, said all the candidates were discussed thoroughly and the committee fully backed McGinley. "I think that as a captain, he will bring the Tour even more together," said Bjorn, who joined McGinley at the news conference. "He is one of us. There has never been a distance to Paul. He's a guy you can talk to.

He's got great opinions and he's been fantastic in The Ryder Cup." Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington said McGinley was exceedingly popular among the players and well organized. Harrington, also from Ireland, called it a great day for Irish golf. "He comes in with the most support of the players who will play under him," Harrington said. "There was massive outpouring from the guys who will likely be on that team. It is a great position for him. That is no slight against Monty. He did a great job when he was Ryder Cup captain, but the guys think it's time for someone else. Paul is the man." McGinley acknowledged he doesn't have the playing record of some previous captains but felt he brings an uncanny ability to win as part of a team. He has been on three Ryder Cup-winning teams and was vice captain for Europe in 2010 and for the improbable comeback win last year at Medinah. Europe will defend the trophy at Gleneagles, Scotland. "What I did do in my career was I always performed extremely highly when I did play as part of a team.

I don't know why," said McGinley, who credits growing up playing Gaelic football for instilling that mindset. "I wish I could have done the same as an individual. But I certainly went to another level when I played in team golf." The Americans last month picked Tom Watson to captain the U.S. team at Gleneagles. Watson will be 65 when the event starts, making him by far the oldest man to fill the role and the first repeat captain for the United States since 1987. But he's also the last American to lead the team to victory on the road in 1993, and he knows how to win in the blustery Scottish weather. Watson congratulated McGinley on his nomination. "(I) anticipate that his passion and love of the event will transfer to being an outstanding leader of his team in 2014 at Gleneagles," Watson said. "Paul has been connected to four winning European Ryder Cup Teams and is an outstanding representative of European golf. I look forward to sharing the stage with him as we make our journey to Scotland." McGinley said he welcomed the chance to face Watson, someone he never competed against as a player.

"Not only is he a wonderful person, but he's a great ambassador for the game of golf and has been for a long, long time," McGinley said. Reblog Poulter, Westwood, Gallacher fill out European roster Poulter, Westwood, Gallacher fill out European roster Donald the odd man out as McGinley announces his three captain's picks September 01, 2014 By PGATOUR.COM Paul McGinley had to choose between Lee Westwood and Luke Donald for the last spot. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Complete coverage of the 2014 Ryder Cup from Gleneagles GC in Scotland. VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- European captain Paul McGinley chose Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher as his wild-card selections Tuesday for the Ryder Cup, with Luke Donald the high-profile name to miss out. Donald, a former No. 1, has been on the winning side on each of his four appearances for Europe but has struggled for form this year after making changes to his swing. "He wasn't expecting it -- he was very disappointed," McGinley said after announcing his picks at European Tour headquarters at Wentworth.

Gallacher will be one of three rookies in the 12-man European team that will face the United States at Gleneagles, Scotland, from Sept. 26-28, along with Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson. The other players who qualified automatically for McGinley's team were Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Bjorn and Graeme McDowell. Europe will be defending the trophy after its 14-13 win over the U.S. at Medinah in 2012. U.S. captain Tom Watson will announce his picks later Tuesday. Gallacher, a Scot, narrowly missed out on automatic selection after finishing third at the Italian Open on Sunday. A top-two finish would have seen him oust McDowell as the final qualifier. RELATED CONTENT: Watch: McGinley interview | Watson makes his picks | Team Europe capsules | Team USA capsules But it was Gallacher's eighth top-10 finish in 2014, leaving him as the form player of the four in contention.

He lives only 35 miles (56 kms) from Gleneagles and has played well on the course in recent years, losing out in a three-man playoff at the Johnnie Walker Championship in 2013. "His first words were: `That's brilliant, wee man,'" McGinley said when asked what Gallacher's reaction was to his selection. "Of course it's a concern to me that he's a rookie, and it's very difficult to pick a rookie for a Ryder Cup. But I've said all along from day one, I'm not afraid to pick a rookie if he proves himself. "And there's no doubt Stevie Gallacher has proved himself and earned his spot on this team." Gallacher's uncle, Bernard, captained Europe in the Ryder Cup in 1991, '93 and '95. Poulter, Westwood and Donald have been stalwarts for Europe over the past decade, helping the team win five of the last six Ryder Cups, but haven't been in top form this year. Poulter was unlikely to be left out as he usually saves his best performances for the Ryder Cup.

He has 12 wins from 15 matches, and is on a seven-match winning streak -- the last four coming at the "Miracle in Medinah" when Europe came from 10-6 down on the final day to retain the cup. "Ian Poulter is a bundle of energy whenever you speak to him. You could feel the energy coming down the phone," McGinley said. Westwood will be playing in his ninth straight Ryder Cup, with his accuracy from tee to green likely counting in his favor. He has played well below his best for much of 2014 but won the Malaysian Open in April and responded to calls from McGinley to show some form by shooting a final-round 63 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational last month before finishing tied for 15th at the PGA Championship. Donald has one of the best short games in the world and is a brilliant putter, making him a key player in Europe's wins in 2004, `06, `10 and `12.

His second place showing at the RBC Heritage in April was his last top-30 finish on the PGA TOUR, and he isn't close to regaining the form that took him to No. 1 and made him the money-winner on both sides of the Atlantic in 2011. "That was a very difficult conversation -- my relationship with him is very close," said McGinley, who was Donald's partner for the Englishman's first Ryder Cup match. "He was very, very disappointed and rightly so. He is a former world No. 1, his record in the Ryder Cup stands with anybody in the game. He said, `You know, Paul, I publicly backed you to be the captain. Even though you haven't picked me, I still believe you'll be a great captain.' His last two words were `Go Europe.' That says a lot about him." MORE FROM PGA TOUR

Question: Who will captain the 2014 European Ryder Cup team?
Answer: Paul McGinley